Exam technique: Language in Use – Word formation

A gap-filling task of this type focuses on your ___________________ (able) to complete a text by
___________________ (form) new words from given ones. In order to fill the gaps you have to draw
on your ___________________ (understand) of the text and, in particular, on your
___________________ (know) of the rules of word formation.

After each gap, there is a word in brackets, printed in bold: it’s the so-called stem-word. Your task is to
change the stem word into another one so that the new one fits the gap in terms of
___________________ (mean) and grammar.

Depending on what stem word is ___________________ (give) and what word has to be formed, you
may need to change, for example, a verb/adjective into a noun (differ/different  difference), a verb
into and adjective (differ  different), or an adjective into an adverb (different  differently) etc.
Note, however, that sometimes you will not need to change word class, but only meaning. This, for
example, will be the case when you have to form an adjective with a ___________________ (negate)
meaning from an adjective with a positive one (regular  irregular).

Proceed as follows:

 Carefully read through the text.

 For each gap, first decide what type of word (verb, noun, adjective or adverb) is needed. Only
then make the necessary change in the stem word.
 You always have to change the word in bold; it is never correct.
 Fill the gap with the new word and check whether the resulting text makes sense.
 Write the word you have formed in the space provided at the end of the text, paying attention
to its correct ___________________ (spell).

Exercise - Word formation: suffixes

Use the suffixes (endings) to create as many adjectives derived from these words as you can. Write the
negative adjectives where appropriate. Be careful with spelling.

act addition anxiety believe comfort create desire effect

end expense fame finance harm help industry nerve
profession reason recognise success use value

-ous -ful -less -al -able -ive

Exam technique: Language in Use – Word formation

ability

forming

understanding

knowledge

meaning

given

negative

spelling

Exercise - Word formation: suffixes

Use the suffixes (endings) to create as many adjectives derived from these words as you can. Write the
negative adjectives where appropriate. Be careful with spelling.

act addition anxiety believe comfort create desire effect

end expense fame finance harm help industry nerve
profession reason recognise success use value

-ous -ful -less -al -able -ive

nervous (un)successful endless financial (un)desirable (in)expensive
anxious harmful harmless additional (un)believable (in)active
famous helpful useless industrial (un)comfortable creative
industrious useful helpless (un)professional (un)reasonable (in)effective
(= hard working) valueless (un)recognisable successive
(un)usable (=step by step)

valuable